Did you know that in April 2027 Merri-Bek council will be introducing a cat curfew? Cats registered prior to this date will need to be confined within their properties from 7pm-7pm daily, and cats registered after April 2027 will need to confined 24 hours a day. 2027 may seem like a long time away however if you have a free roaming feline friend you will need plenty of time to get your cat used to the adjustment! Let us help you get a head start!
Why is there a move towards cat curfews?
Widlife:
Being a cat owner you are very likely to be an animal lover. While your feline friend likely is the purrfect companion, instinct dictates that they can also be a ruthless predator. In Australia it is estimated that pet cats kill 61million birds in Australia every year. Once we factor in the feral cat population it has been found that a staggering 1million birds are killed every day in Australia. A single cat is estimated to kill 110 native animals per year including reptiles, birds and mammals. You may be reading this whilst looking at your beautiful Boris, Kitty or Pumpkin thinking they would never hurt a fly! However it is important to note that cats infrequently bring home evidence of their hunting ways, with cat only bring home of 15% of the animals they kill. Despite being inner city Brunswick and surrounds is suprisingly lush with native species with some wonderful green spaces, the Merri Creek home to a diverse range of species that we have a responsibility to protect. Come Spring our clinic often resembles a mini wildlife sanctuary with birdlife including the rare owl or tawny frogmouths, baby possums and ducklings.
Feline Health:
As your Veterinary team we seem first hand the potential injuries and illnesses that can fall upon a roaming cat. Cat bite abscesses, road traffic accidents, fall injuries are commonplace. Infectious disease is also a significant problem with cats free to roam including cat flu, feline immunodeficiency virus and parasitic disease. Whilst regular vet checks and preventative healthcare can help to keep your beloved pet safe, risk can be significantly reduced if not eliminated with an indoors or restricted outdoor area.
How can you support you cat’s transition to an indoor lifestyle?
Environmental enrichment is key to ensuring that your cat leads a happy and fulfilled indoor life. Enrichment toys such as activity feeders can help beat boredom. Ensuring that you cat daily opportunity for play and social interaction with their humans. Cats also appreciate a view to watch the world go by so window hammocks are a great option. Cats appreciate vertical space so consider cat trees and high up spots for viewing and hiding.
For those with outdoor options for their cat a catio is a great opportunity for your cat to get outdoor activitity in a space. There are commercially available catios, though consider converting a lightwell or even DIY options if you are handy! Commercially available cat netting over the yard or fence rollers are also an option to keep your cat within your property boundary. Cat doors with timers or a lock will be helpful to abide by the overnight lock in regulations.
Harness training for lead walking is a fantastic way to get your cat out and about. This would take time, practice and lots of treat rewards to ensure your cat is comfortable for leash walks.
It is important to note that we also see a higher rate of certain illnesses indoor cats such as lower urinary tract disease and obesity, therefore ensuring your cat is on a high quality complete and balanced diet and getting daily activity is important to avoid the detrimental effects of sedentary lifestyle.
Multi cat households and cats experiencing difficulty adjusting:
For those who have multiple cats in their cat moving to a indoor lifestyle presents a unique challenge. It is important to remember that cat stress can often stem from resource limitations and therefore ensuring there are adequate food, water and litter supplies in the household can help avoid stress associated illness. The general guidance is one food/water/litter per cat in the household plus one. For example a 2 cat household would require 3 of each item. Ensuring cats also have adequate hiding places such as igloos and safe zones is essential too. Stress relieving products such as pheromone diffusers are also
a great option for any cat having difficulty adjusting. There are many options to help ease anxiety in cats so please speak to our team if feel your cat may need support with this change.
So know you know the why, how and when of the impending cat curfew you have time to get your cat and your home for the big change in their lifestyle. If at any stage you have any questions regarding how best you can support you cat to live a happy life please reach out to one of our friendly team.
Merri-bek City Council adopts new animal management plan and cat curfew
How many birds are killed by cats in Australia? – ScienceDirect
